The Sun's radiation provides the energy for all of the following EXCEPT *

1 point

plant growth

ocean currents

hurricanes

plate tectonics

cloud formation

Catalytic converters reduce which of the following pairs of pollutants in car exhaust? *

1 point

carbon dioxide and ozone

carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons

carbon dioxide and particulates

lead and mercury

methane and particulates

Red pine trees are currently found growing in only the cool northernmost areas of the central and eastern United States. Climate change is expected to have an impact on the distribution of the species. Which of the following describes the most likely change to the distribution of red pine over the next 200 years? *

1 point

Red pine will grow in only the wetter areas of the southeastern United States

Red pine will spread to large areas of the Southwest

The total number of red pine trees will decrease, but red pine trees will continue to grow in the same locations as they grow currently.

Red pine distribution will shift northward into Canada.

Red pine distribution will expand southward to Caribbean nations.

Construction of a solar power plant is proposed for a desert area near a school. A student has hypothesized that the shade cast by the solar panels will increase the mortality of creosote bush, a native desert plant in the area. Before construction begins, what experimental data should the student collect in order to eventually test the hypothesis? *

1 point

The rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide worldwide (in ppm) that occurs in the 12-month period prior to the start of construction.

Average noise levels (in decibels) at a construction site, compared to average noise levels in the desert 20 km away from the construction site.

The rate of wind-caused soil erosion (in kg/yr) near solar panels at a similar desert location where creosote bush grows.

The direct sunlight received where creosote bush in the desert area (in kWh/square meter) during a 12-month period.

The changes in monthly precipitation (in mm/yr) at a similar desert location where creosote bush grows.

For which of the following reasons do small isolated islands have a greater rate of species extinction than larger, less isolated islands? *

1 point

small isolated islands are more likely to receive more migrating species

small isolated islands provide opportunities for a greater diversity of species

because of their size, small isolated islands accumulate more species by chance

small isolated islands have a lower availability of resources

because they have fewer available niches, small isolated islands are targeted and colonized by species

Some studies have indicated that global amphibian populations are declining and that exposure to herbicides in agricultural runoff is implicated in the decline. Which of the following is the most likely explanation of how herbicides affect amphibians? *

1 point

The herbicides are fat soluble and accumulate in groundwater

The herbicides act as a plant nutrient, causing algal blooms

The herbicides act as endocrine disruptors

The herbicides are ingested amphibians that mistake them for food

The herbicides contain heavy metals

The presence of which of the following in soil is most likely to neutralize acid rain? *

1 point

limestone

granite

sand

radon

humus

Brown pelicans are fish-eating birds. As a result of an El Nino event, the population of brown pelicans in southern California declines. Which of the following best explains the relationship between the El Nino event and the population decline? *

1 point

Warmer ocean temperatures can cause fish to move to colder water farther from pelican nest sites

lower sea surface heights can result in pelican nest sites being isolated too far from their food supply in the ocean

the female reproductive tract of birds does not function at the lower water temperatures of El Nino

male pelicans get disoriented due to lack of moisture and fail to return to the nest with food